Traffic signal



June 10, 1941. J. J. HAMMER 2,244,946

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 22, 1938 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 Z M a am X If may... w w\ m 7 I" H 5. 7 i i i z 1 Z2 June 10, 1941. .1. J. HAMMER TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TORN V June 10, 1941. J. J. HAMMER 2,244,946

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Sept. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 green Jig/IE 6 Zara:

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Z A w W mm j Z a M Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES Parser OFFICE 2,244,946 TRAFFIC SIGNAL John J. Hammer, Detroit, Mich. Application September 22, 1938, Serial No. 231,127

" 4 Claims. ((21. 177-337) This invention relates to traffic signals of the type used to control the flow of trafiic at the intersectionof streets and highways.

One object of this invention is to provide a Stop and Go signal for use at the intersection of streets and highways adapted to positively inform pedestrians and motorists respectively whether or not sumcient time remains to cross an intersection before the Go signal changes to Stop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic signal for use at intersections of streets and highways in which 'a warning of a light change from green indicating Go to red indicating Stop is accomplished by a traveling light moving around the green Go light first appearing as a yellow light and then changing to a red light after traveling partly around the green Go light.

Anothe robject of the invention is to provide a Go and Stop trafiic light for use at intersections of streets and highways which removes the uncertainty of how long a green Go light will stay green which will enable pedestrians and motorists to avoid entering an intersection on' the green Go light too late to fully cross the intersection before the green Go light changes'to the red Stop light whereby to free intersections of traffic' hazard to pedestrians and motorists and increase the capacity of the intersection to handle traiflc because of beingclear of pedestrians and vehicles at each change of the trailic light.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a traflic signal having a green Go light and a red Stop light and simple and inexpensive mechanism for changing the'said signal from Go to Stop and Stop to Go.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic signal having a-green Go light, a red Stop light and a warning light showing pedestrians-and motorists respectively of the-change of the green Go light to a red Stop lighthaving only a single large lens facing each direction which will avoid confusion ininterpreting sig nals, thesaid traflic signal being lighted by a single cluster of lamps for all colored lights which definitely avoids failure in the operation of the signal lights unless all of the electric lamps in the lamp cluster burn out at once.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved trailic signal having green Go lights appearing in opposite directions simultaneously with red Stop lights'appearing in opposite directions 90 degrees with respect to the said green Go lights including'a Warning light traveling around each of the said green Go lights which first appears as yellow and then turns to red whereby to provide separate warnings to pedestrians and motorists timed proportionate to their relative speed of travel along the highway that the green Go light is about to change to the red Stoplight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic signal light composed of an outer square housing having clear lenses on all sides thereof, an inner'housing mounted for 90 degrees arcuate reciprocation about its vertical center within said outer housing having green Go and red Stop lenses therein disposed at 90 degrees with respect to each other, and illuminating means within said inner housing for throwing light through all green and red lenses whereby to make green Go signals and red Stop signals appear through the said clear lenses, means for arcuately'reciprocating said housing 90 degrees responsive to timing means whereby to change signals appearing through the said clearlenses from green Go to start to cross an intersection protected by said tralnc signal before the said green Go signal changes toa red Stop signal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic signal light composed of an outer housing having main clear lenses on all sides thereof, an inner housing mounted for 90 degrees arcuate reciprocation about its vertical center within said outer housing having pairs of oppositely disposed green Go and red Stop lenses thereinidisposed at 90 degrees with respect to each other, illuminating means within said inner housing for throwing; light through all green and red lenses whereby tor-make green Go signals and red Stop signals appear through the said main clear lenses, means for arcuately reciprocating said inher housing fl degrees responsive to timing means whereby to change signals appearing through the said main clear lenses from green Go to red Stop and vice versa, and small Warning lights disposed under the said main lenses responsive to timing means for giving warning that the said green Go signals will change to red Stop signals;

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the cluster of electric lights 24 is centrally supported and located within the said inner housing I2 for 7 projecting light through the green lenses I3 in the inner housing I2 which shows a green Go light through oppositely disposed clear lenses II in the outer housing II] and for projecting light through the yellow lens IS in each of the said opaque discs I5 in which the said green lenses I3 are mounted showing a yellow light through each of the said clear lenses in the outer housing III which travels around the said green light when the opaque disc I5 is rotated. The said yellow light traveling around the green light serves as a inner arcuately reciprocating lens carrying unit taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the traveling warning light Stop switch and cam therefor.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5. a

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram relating to the operation of the traffic signal disclosed in Figs. 1

to 5 inclusive.

Fig. Sis an elevational View showing another embodiment of the invention wherein fixed warning lights are substituted for the traveling warn- :ng lens of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

'Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts lenses I3 in two sidesthereof and a pairof op-' positelydisposed red lenses I4 located at 90 degrees with respect to the said green'lenses I3 in the other two sides thereof, the said green lenses I3 and the said red lenses I4 being centered with respect to the clear lenses II in the outer housing II]. The said green lenses I3 are each fixed in thecenter of a vertically disposed rotatable annular opaque disc I5 which has a single circular yellow lens- I6 mounted through the face thereof, the said opaque disc I5 being centrally, mounted in a ring gear I! which is preferably rotatably supported on a plurality of pinions I8 and rotated by a motor I9, through a speed reducer anddrive pinions 2| keyed on each end of oppositely turning drive shafts 22 and 2% extending from the said speed reducer 20. The entire drive mechanism for rotating the ring gears I7, is supportedfrom the base 23 of the inner housing I2.

Inasmuchjas each green lens I3 is centrally mounted in an annularopaque disc I5 having a yellow lens jlfi mounted therethrough adjacent the said green lens I3, the said green lens appears stationary when the said opaque disc I5 is rotated on an axis central with respect to the I said green lens I3 and'normal to the face there- The said Illuminating means preferably composed of a warning to pedestrians that the green light will not remain lighted a sufiicient length of time to permit pedestrians to cross an intersection protected by a traflic signal embodying the invention before the green Go light changes to a red Stop light and before traflic in across direction is given the green Go signal. An opaque fixed shield 25 is disposed in front of each of the opaque discs I5 at the bottom of the said inner housing I2 behind which the said yellow lenses I6 are positioned when no warning signal is being given. A vertically disposed arcuate stationary red lens 26 is positioned between the il-' luminating means 24 and each opaque disc I5 extending arcuately counter clockwise from the bottom center of the inner housing I2 to any desired segment of a circle, for example degrees. The said red lenses 26 serve to change the color of the yellow warning light to red during the latter portion of its travel around the green light for the purpose of giving a separate warning to motorists that the green light will not remainlighted sufiicient time for a vehicle to cross an intersection protected by a trafiic signal embodying'the invention before the green Go light changes to a red Stop light and before traffic in a cross direction is given the green Go light.

The said illuminating means 24 also project light through'the red lenses I4 in the inner housing'l2 which show a red Stop light through the oppositely disposed clear lenses II in the outer housing I2 located at 90 degrees with respect to Trafiic signals embodying the invention may be supported on a suitable post or suspended from an overhead arm or cable as may be desired. The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive is of the supported type and is constructed with'a'centrally disposed collar 21 depending from its outer housing I I] which telescopes into the top of a hollow supporting post 28 and is secured therein by such suitable means as one or more anchorage studs 29. v

A circular base 30 is suitably fixed in the depending collar 21 of the said outer housing Ill onto which the inner housing I2 is preferably mounted for arcuate reciprocation about its ver-- tical center within the said outer housing ID by means of a mounting sleeve 3| secured to the bottom of the base 23 of the said inner housing I2 by machine bolts 32. The said mounting sleeve 3I is'preferably bored and counterbored to receive the outer races of thrust type ball bearings 33 and 34, the "inner races of which are preferably telescoped over a vertically disposed stationary stub shaft 300 integral with and exv tending centrally upward from the said circular base 30. The inner race of the lower thrust type ball bearing 34 is supported on the said circular base 30.

The said inner housing I2 is arcuately reciprocated on its vertical axis within the said outer housing I by means of spaced arcuate solenoids 35 and 36 which are secured to and supported from the outer housing I0 on suitable sleeve type brackets 37 clamped securely around the said solenoids 35 and 36. .The solenoids 35 and 36 have a common arcuate core 38 therethrough which is secured at its center through and to a tongue 39 bracketed radially outward from the said mounting sleeve 3| of the said inner housing I2. When the solenoid 35 is energized, the arcuate core 38 fixed to the mounting sleeve 3| of the inner housing I2 is drawn by the magnetic field of the solenoid 35 to the position indicated in Fig. 3 which turns the inner housing I2 to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the solenoid 36 is energized, the arcuate core 38 fixed to the mounting sleeve 3| of the inner housing I2 is drawn by the field of the solenoid 36 centrally into the said solenoid and turns the said inner housing I2 90 degrees with respect to its former position with the tongue 39 extending radially outward from the mounting sleeve 3| positioned as indicated by the dot. and dash lines 390 in Fig. 3 whereupon the inner housing I2 and the signal lights carried thereby is positioned 90' degrees with respect to the position thereof indicated in Fig. 3. Thus by alternately energizing the solenoids 35 and 36, the inner housing I2 and the signal lights carried thereby is arcuately reciprocated 90 degrees about its vertical center with respect to the outer housing I0 and the signal lights appearing through the clear glass lenses I I in the outer housing I0 change from green Go to red Stop and vice versa. A spring loaded 'ball detent 40 adapted to become engaged in notches 4| and 42 disposed at 90 degrees with respect to each other in the mounting sleeve 3| or'other suitable equivalent means eliminates wobble as the inner housing I2 is reciprocated about its vertical center by the arcuate solenoids 35 and 36.

A stop switch 43 as indicated in Figs. and 6 is mounted on one wall of the inner housing I2 and is operated by a switch lever arm 44 carrying a roller 45 which is constantly urged against the side of one of the annular ring gears I'I by such means as the spring 440. The stop switch 43 is normally closed, however, it is opened and held open by a cam. 46 so located on the side of the said rin gear I! as to open the said stop switch 43 when the ring gears II' are rotated to a position in which the yellow lenses I6 carried by the opaque discs I5 are behind an opaque fixed shield 2 5. Figs. 5 and 6 show the said stop switch lever arm 44 raised by the cam 46 to a position at which the said stop switch 43 is open. A spring loaded brake I90 adapted to be, released by the solenoid I 900 preferably mountedon the slow speed pinion shaft 220 sets whenever the cam roller 45 rides the cam 46 and opens the said stop switch 4-3 and steps the motor I3 and the rotation of the ring gear I'I.

4 p Suitable time control means of any well known standard type and construction, not shown but indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 and which is not a part of the instant invention, may beused to energize the various circuits of the novel trafiic signal disclosed herein. A common conductor 41 is'connected from a source of electric energy to the motor I9,to the brake release solenoid coil I900 of. the brake I90, to the illuminating means 24, and to the solenoids 35 and 36, all as indicated in the wiring diagram Fig. 7. Any Well-known type of drum controller I0 such as indicated in Fig. '7 rotated at the desired speed may beemployed- The said drum controller I0 may be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow I I by any suitable means such as a synchronousmotor, not shown. The said drum controller I0 is provided with a. continuous contact strip 4900 therearound which is continuously energized through the contact finger F490 and the conductor 490 which is connected to a source of electrical energy, the said conductor 490 also being connected to the switch 43 through which cur-- rent is supplied to the motor I9 after it has started running by current supplied thereto through the conductor 49 as hereinafter described. Contact strips 499, 3600 and 3500 suitably disposed on the surface of the drum controller I0 are all cross connected to the live continuous contact strip 4900 and each energizes conductors 49, 360 and 350 respectively through suitable contact fingers F49, F360 and F350 respectively in the proper sequence as hereinafter disclosed and is obvious by reference to the drum controller I0; thus a standard type drum control means. is adapted to energize the arcuate solenoid through the conductor 350 and the arcuate solenoid 36 through the conductor 360 alternately for several seconds at the desired time intervals which causes the timed arcuate reciprocation of the inner housing I2 of the traffic signal disclosed in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, the switch diagrammatically indicated by a circle designated by the numeral 48 in Fig. .7 causing the illuminating means 24 to be lighted through the conductor 240 at all times. except when the inner housing I2 is being movedarcuately degrees in either one direction or the other by the said solenoids 35 and 36.

The said switch 48 diagrammatically indicated within the circle 43 in Fig. 7 has 5 contactors. Contactor A is connected to one side of the solenoid 35. Contac'tor B is connected to conductor 350, contactor C is connected to the light bank 24, contactor D isconnected to the conductor 360, and contactor E is connected to the one side of the solenoid 36. Contactors B and D are fixed, contactor C is movable by the movement of the inner housing I2, and contactors A and E are movablerespo-nsive to the movement of contactor C. The movement of the contactor C in one direction breaks the normally spring closed contactors A'and B and the movement of the :contactor C in the other direction breaks the normally spring closed contactors D and E.

When the inner housing I2 is turned to the 7 position indicated in Fig. 2 by the solenoid 35, the

'and B will be closed, contactors B and C will be opened and contactors C and D will be closed.

.VVhen the contactor C is m-ovedto the left as. shown in Fig. 7 by the turning of the inner housductor 41 directly from the source of electric energy and through the conductors 240 and 350,

the said conductor 350 picking up its energy from the linger F350 on the drum controller 10. As the drum controller revolves the contact finger F49 comes in contact with the contactor strip 499 which energizes the solenoid brake release coil I900 and starts the motor I9 through the conductor 49 causing the ring gear I! carrying the yellow lens I6 to start revolving. As the ring gear I1 revolves the switch 43 is caused to close by the cam roller 45 running off the cam 46.

The closing of the switch 43 energizes the motor I9 directly from the source of power SS through conductors 41 and 490 and the motor continues to run until the cam roller 45 again rides the cam 46 and opens the switch 43 which stops the rotation of the motor I9 and the rotation of the ring gear I! by de-energizing the solenoid brake release coil I900. Immediately after the said switch 43 becomes opened by the cam 45 the drum :controller 'lfl breaks the current running through the conductor 350'and supplied current through the conductor 360.

As soon as the circuit 360 is energized the solenoid 36 is energized and turns the'inner housing 90 degrees which causesthe contact C of the switch 48 to be moved from left to right by the arcuate movement of the tongue 39 causing contactors B and C to be opened, contactors A and B to be closed, contactors D and E to be opened, and contactors C and D to be closed. In this second position of the contactor C, the light bank 24 is energized through the conductor 41 directly from the source of electric energy and through the conductors 240 and 360, the said conductor 300 picking up its energy from the finger F360 onthe drum. controller 10. The contactors A and Bare now closed so that the solenoid coil 1 35 may be energized as soon as another contact strip 3500 is contacted by the finger F 350 of the drum controller 10 which will turn the inner housing I2 in the direction opposite to the direction in which it had' just previously been turned, this afterthe ring gear I I carrying the yellow lens I6 has been caused to revolve as hereinbefore described by the conductor 49 again being energized by thefinger F49 contacting another con- 43 closes when the roller 45 of the switch arm 44 thereof rides off the cam 46 on the said ring gear I'I. closed; the time control means "I then cuts off the current supply through the conductor 49 to the'motor I9 and brake release solenoid I900 after first connecting the current supply to the motor I9 and brake release solenoid I900 through the conductor 490 and the warning light stop' switch 43. The motor I9 continues to run until the warning signal carried by the ring gear I! makes one complete revolution whereupon the cam 46 kicks out'the said warning light stop switch 43 and the motor circuit including the solenoid brake release circuit is instantly de-energized causing the ring gear I! to stop rotating at such a When the warning light stop switch 43 is' to a stopbehind the fixed shield 25 which obscures the said warning light until the next time the warning light circuit is energized. After the warning light comes to a stop behind the said shield 25, the said time control means 10 then immediately energizes the proper circuit 350 or 360, as the case may be, whereupon the main traffic signal lights [change from green Go to red Stop and vice versa.

Figs. 8 and 9 disclose a traffic signal similar in every respect to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive except that the traveling warning light and all mechanism re lating thereto has been omitted and. the outer housing I0 has been changed to a deeper outer housing I90 to accommodate small fixed yellow warning lights and 5I disposed directly below the mainclear lenses II in the said outer housing I 00. The use of the fixed warning lights 50 and 5I necessitates the lengthening of the solenoid supporting brackets 3'! to high brackets 310 asindicated in Fig. 9 and has required the circular base 30 on which the inner housing I2 is mounted to be'extended upwardly by inserting an extension'30l between the said circular base 30 and the spindle 300 as shown in Fig. 9. The green ilenses I3 are preferably the same size as the red lenses I4 and are fixed in the side of the inner housing I2.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is'otherwise identical to the embodiment'of the invention hereinbefore described in det'ail and shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the

Figs. 8 and Q'and the wiring diagram required is obviously similar to that described for the embodiment of "the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive with the exception that the circuit used to'operate the motor I9 and the solenoid I900 and the stop switch 43 is omitted and that two circuits energized from the time control means are substituted therefor, the said circuits being employed to light the warning lights 50 and 5| a predetermined time prior to the change of the signal thereabo-vefrom green Go to red Stop.

Although the disclosure and description refers to square trafiic signals and degree operation 7 thereof, it is obvious that the shape of the outer housings I0 and I00 may be altered to any reasonable .number of sides at any reasonable angle with. respect to' each other to adapt the said signal to serve at other than 90 degree intersections of streets and highways and at intersections where two or more streets or thoroughfares intersect or meet.

Although but one'embodiment of the invention and one modification thereof has been disclosed and described herein it will be observed that various changes including the size, shape, arrangement and details of the various parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is not intended to limit the scope thereof other than by the terms of the appended claims.

"I claim:

l; A trafi'ic signal light comprising a fixed outer housing, a clear lens in each side of the said outer housing, an inner housing mounted for arcuate reciprocation within said outer housing about the vertical center thereof, green and red lenses alternately disposed one in each side of said inner housing horizontally centered with respect to the said clear lenses in said outer housing, said green lenses being mounted for rotation about their horizontal center, a yellow lens, fixed radially adjacent each green lens, timing means, means responsive to said timing means for rotating said green lenses about their horizontal center whereby to cause said yellow lenses to travel around the center of said green lenses, illuminating means in said inner housing adapted to project light through said green, red and yellow lenses whereby to present green Go, red Stop and yellow Warning signals through said clear lenses, a shield adapted to obscure said yellow Warning signals when not traveling around the center of the said green signals, and means responsive to said timing means for reciprocating said inner housing on a suificient are about its vertical center whereby to change the green lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to red lenses and to change red lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to green lenses which simultaneously changes all green Go signals presented to red Stop signals and vice versa at the completion of the travel of. the said yellow Warning signal around the center of each green Go signal.

2. A trafiic signal light comprising a fixed outer housing, a clear lens in each side of the said outer housing, an inner housing mounted for arcuate reciprocation within said outer housing about the vertical center thereof, green and red lenses alternately disposed one in each side of said inner housing horizontally centered with respect to the said clear lenses in said outer housing, said green lenses being mounted for rotation about their horizontal center, a yellow lens fixed radially adjacent each green lens, to timing means, means responsive to said timing means for rotating said green lenses about their horizontal center whereby to cause said yellow lenses to travel around the center of said green lenses, illuminating means in said inner housing adapted to project light through said green, red and yellow lenses whereby to present green Go, red Stop and yellow Warning signals through said clear lenses, a shield adapted to obscure said yellow Warning signals when not traveling around the center of the said green signals, means responsive to said timing means for reciprocating said inner housing on a sufficient are about its vertical center whereby to change the green lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to red lenses and change red lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to green lenses which simultaneously changes all green Go signals presented to red Stop signals and vice versa at the completion of the travel of the said yellow Warning signal around the center of each green Go signal, and a red lens disposed in the path of light through each yellow lens at the latter are of its travel around the center of each green lens whereby to change the yellow Warning signal to a red Warning signal just prior to the change of all green Go signals to red Stop signals and vice versa.

3. A trafiic signal light comprising a fixed outer housing, a clear lens in each side of the said outer housing, an inner housing mounted for arcuate reciprocation within said outer housing about the vertical center thereof, green and red lenses alternately disposed one in each side of said inner housing horizontally centered with respect to the said clear lenses in said outer housing, opaque discs rotatably mounted in alternate sides of said inner housing, each disc having one of said green lenses centrally mounted therein, a yellow lens mounted in each disc radially adjacent the green lens therein, timing means, means responsive to said timing means for rotating said discs which causes the said yellow lenses to travel around the center of the said green lenses, illuminating means in said inner housing adapted to project light through said green, red and yellow lenses whereby to present green Go, red Stop and yellow Warning signals through said clear lenses, a shield adapted to obscure said yellow Warning signals when not traveling around the center of the said green signals, means responsive to said timing means for reciprocating said inner housing on a suflicient are about its vertical center whereby to change the green lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to red lenses and change red lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to green lenses which simultaneously changes all green Go signals presented to red Stop signals and vice versa at the completion of the travel of the said yellow Warning signal around the center of each green Go signal, and a red lens disposed in the path of light through each yellow lens at the latter are of its travel around the center of each green lens whereby to change the yellow Warning signal to a red Warning signal just prior to the change of all green Go signals to red Stop signals and vice versa.

4. A trafiic signal light comprising a fixed outer housing, a clear lens in each side of the said outer housing, an inner housing mounted for arcuate reciprocation within said outer housing about the vertical center thereof, green and red lenses alternately disposed one in each side of said inner housing horizontally centered with respect to the said clear lenses in said outer housing, said green lenses being mounted for rotation about their horizontal center, a yellow lens disposed radially adjacent each green lens, timing means, means responsive to said timing means for rotating said green lenses about their horizontal center whereby to cause said yellow lenses to travel around the center of said green lenses, illuminating means in said inner housing adapted to project light through said green, red and yellow lenses whereby to present green Go, red Stop and yellow Warning signals through said clear lenses, a shield adapted to obscure said yellow Warning signals when not traveling around the center of the said green signals, means operable responsive to said timing means for traveling the said yellow Warning lens around said green Go lens prior to the changing of the presenting of a green Go signal to a red Stop signal through said clear lenses, and means responsive to said timing means for reciprocating said inner housing on a sufficient arc about its vertical center whereby to change the green lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to red lenses and to change red lenses horizontally centered on said clear lenses to green lenses which simultaneously changes all green Go signals presented to red Stop signals and vice versa at the completion of the travel of the said yellow Warning signal around the center of each green Go signal.

JOHN J. HAMMER. 

